As we all know, things are so much easier when we create a routine and stick to it. However, many of us are flying by the seat of our pants despite our best efforts to stay on schedule. Creating a schedule is an elementary idea. Super simple until you have to start squeezing every aspect of your life into those little boxes on a calendar. As you have probably already figured out ……. your family, job, workout routine, child chaffering services, cheerleading, refereeing, dog training, shopping, cleaning, cooking AND sleeping can’t all be squeezed into one little box. It’s a mess. The writing for one box is always encroaching on other boxes. Things are always falling out of MY boxes. In fact, sometimes things are hanging over the edge of the box and then slip out when I am least expecting it, like when I am trying to grab Michael something else that is attempting to JUMP from the box.

Regardless, the schedule is messy and tricky and a total PITA until we get it mastered. So let’s brainstorm a little bit and come up with a few things that can make our lives calendars a bit more manageable!
1) Meal Planning. I really think this is at the top of the list. We, as mom’s, spend a lot of time cooking. We want healthy options for ourselves and any of our little munchkins who will eat the good stuff too, but we are so busy in the afternoon/evenings getting our little angels where they need to go that we come home exhausted at 8pm (or later) and basically collapse. If a meal hasn’t already been planned or started, its pizza again! Yes, again, like we probably already had it once this week. And while nobody in my house complains about pizza, it’s just not a great option nutritionally, or financially, if it is constantly a Plan B. So think about what you want to feed your family BEFORE the week starts. Get together ingredients for a couple crockpot meals if you are gone a lot for after-school activities. Make larger meals so that you can have leftover night & just reheat everyone’s favorite meal of the week. Buy individually wrapped/packaged fish fillets that bake in about 15 minutes for when you are in a hurry but still want something healthy. Don’t be embarrassed about buying the bagged salad because tossing a side salad on the table EVEN WITH PIZZA is better than breadsticks something starchy! Cut the corners where you need to but focus on overall healthy meals that taste good, are quick to prep and make the family happy.

2) Get the run and/or workout out of the way BEFORE the day starts. I know we are all busy. And tired. And busy. Everyone wants to sleep as long as possible. But get out of bed and go do your workout early. This is really the only time for most of us. If it doesn’t happen before the day starts, it’s not going to happen at all because we are too focused on the family to take time back out for us. It’s too easy to decide to clean the house instead of go for a run. Or make a good dinner instead of heating up leftovers. I know. I’m right there with you. So get out of bed and go run or take yourself to the gym before the chaos ensues!

3) Give the kiddos chores. Sounds mean? Not at all, this is about life, responsibility, learning to help others. Divide & conquer the house cleaning, laundry and dishes! Don’t worry if things aren’t perfect and if the towels aren’t folded the way that you like, go read Runners World a book rather than refold those towels!!

4) Divide & Conquer! Don’t be afraid to ask your significant other for help. Some people still live in the dark ages where they think that the women need to do everything. And while your hubby may not be a rockstar house cleaner, laundry fairy or babysitter, LET THEM HELP! Send them to the store so that you can pick up the kids. Text them and ask them to put the laundry in the dryer and to “please” not dry your favorite running tights. LET THEM WATCH THE KIDS whether they like it or not while you run! This is super important ladies. The father of your children are FATHERS. They are partially responsible for your little angles. If you don’t let them help parent the kids, then they will be clueless and that’s on you. I know you are amazing moms. I know that you are superwomen and can do it all.  But sometimes just remember that you don’t have to do it all because you are part of a partnership. And if you are not part of a partnership, I can only hope that you have an amazing mother, BFF, sister or a network of women to help you because running a household while staying sane is not easy.

5) Be flexible and schedule in downtime! A schedule is only as good as the people using it. Realize that nothing is ever perfect. Nobody is perfect. Life isn’t perfect. And takeout pizza isn’t going to kill the family when you forget to turn on the crockpot before you leave for work if things go awry. Do your best to plan things out, use all your resources to balance the workload as much as possible but understand that shit things happen and be ready to roll with it when it arrives. That’s the secret to a busy schedule: flexibility. I also think its super important to have downtime. I try to keep Sunday’s open. No I don’t like Sunday birthday parties or movie dates or shopping trips. I want to stay home on Sunday and not do anything. I’ll probably be tackling my long run before the sun comes up but after that I’m showering, putting my jammies back on, making a big breakfast for the family and then hopefully finding my way to the recliner to watch movies or read. That’s it. I bust my butt all week in hopes for some downtime on Sunday.

Do you have any scheduling tips OR maybe the secret to end the chaos? If so, PLEASE tell us!!

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** Finding My Routine ** Amanda – TooTallFritz **